Xiaomi Mi A2 Camera Review: Definitely Best in Class

The second-gen Android One device from Xiaomi, the Mi A2, was recently released in the country and while it looks like a decent mid-range offering on paper, the device has some significant shortcomings. However, the camera is not one of them. Compared to other mid-range smartphones in the market, the Mi A2 (Rs. 16,999) packs in some decent camera hardware, including a 12MP+20MP dual camera setup on the back and a 20MP selfie shooter. The upgraded specifications look quite promising, but how does the camera actually perform in real world use? Let’s jump right into the Mi A2 camera review and find out:

Xiaomi Mi A2 Camera Review

Specifications

Before we delve any further into the camera review, lets take a detailed look at the Mi A2’s camera specifications. The Mi A2’s dual camera setup houses a 12MP f/1.8 sensor along with a 20MP f/1.8 secondary sensor for depth perception and better low-light performance. The primary cameras also feature PDAF for faster focusing and electronic image stabilization (EIS). The dual camera setup is complemented by a LED, which will primarily be used as a flashlight and can be used as a camera flash if you’re really desperate. Up front, the Mi A2 packs in a 20MP f/2.2 selfie shooter, which is a major step up from the 5MP selfie shooter on the Mi A1.

Rear Cameras

Performance in Good Lighting Conditions

In good lighting conditions, the Mi A2’s camera performs exceptionally well for a device in this price bracket, delivering sharp and detailed images that have accurate color reproduction and no sign of any over-saturation. The images also have great dynamic range, with the device managing to capture enough details to separate a wide array of colors in a single frame. Here are a few sample images that we captured with the Mi A2 in good lighting conditions:

1 of 5

Performance in Low-light Conditions

Low-light performance, thanks to the 20MP secondary sensor, is also quite satisfactory for a smartphone in this price range. The device is able to capture an ample amount of light, resulting in images that have great detail with little to no noise. Images clicked in low-light were well exposed and there was very little loss in color saturation, something that is commonly seen in other mid-range devices. Check out these sample images that we captured in low-lighting conditions:

1 of 4

Portrait Mode Performance

Given that the Mi A2 packs in a dual camera setup, it’s quite obvious that the device features portrait mode capabilities. Unlike other device in this price range, portrait mode images clicked using the Mi A2 turn out really nice. The images have good subject separation, accurate edge detection and a natural background blur. In our testing, the device didn’t face any issues clicking portrait mode shots of a wide variety of subjects, including inanimate objects. Here are a few portrait mode samples captured using the Mi A2:

1 of 4

Video Recording Performance

The primary cameras on the Mi A2 are capable of capturing [email protected] video, which is another feature that isn’t commonly found on devices in this price range. The device manages to capture good quality video, however, due to the lack of any stabilization the resulting video is quite shaky. The electronic image stabilization on the Mi A2 only works with [email protected] video and the resulting video looks great and is quite stable as well. Here are the sample videos we clicked using the Mi A2:

Front Camera

As mentioned earlier, the Mi A2 packs in a 20MP f/2.2 front facing camera for capturing selfies which, once again, works quite well. In good lighting conditions, the selfie shooter on the Mi A2 captures great images with ample amount of details and good color accuracy. The front facing camera, however, doesn’t have the same dynamic range as the primary camera and therefore tends to mess up when the camera is facing a light source. As you’d expect, the front facing camera on the Mi A2 also features portrait mode capabilities and the software implementation is quite satisfactory. Portrait mode images captured using the selfie shooter have good subject separation and a nice background blur. Check out these sample images clicked by the Mi A2’s front facing camera:

1 of 6

Mi A2 vs Competitors: Camera Comparison

While it might not do as well in other scenarios when compared to its competitors, the Redmi Note 5 Pro, the ZenFone Max Pro M1 6GB and the Nokia 6.1 Plus, it surely outshines the others in the camera department. Both in good lighting conditions and in low light, the images captured by the Mi A2 have more details and better color reproduction. I was fairly impressed by the camera’s performance. Here are some of the sample images we used for comparison:

1 of 4

Mi A2

Nokia 6.1 Plus

Redmi Note 5 Pro

ZenFone Max Pro M1

1 of 4

Mi A2

Nokia 6.1 Plus

Redmi Note 5 Pro

ZenFone Max Pro M1

As you can probably tell from the sample images, the Mi A2 not only outperforms the other devices in good lighting, but it also fares better in low lighting conditions. Portrait mode images clicked using the Mi A2 also offer better edge detection, a more natural looking bokeh effect and ample amount of details. Check out the sample below:

1 of 4

Mi A2

Nokia 6.1 Plus

Redmi Note 5 Pro

ZenFone Max Pro M1

The front facing 20MP camera on the Mi A2 also outperforms the competition, delivering high-quality images both with and without the bokeh effect. Just take a look at these samples below:

Xiaomi Mi A2 Camera Review: Best Cameras in the Price Segment

While the Xiaomi Mi A2 (Rs. 16,999) may not be the most desirable smartphone in its price range, it certainly does have the photography chops to sway people’s decision in its favor. The Mi A2’s cameras perform significantly better than those of its competitors, namely the Redmi Note 5 Pro, the ZenFone Max Pro M1 and the Nokia 6.1 Plus, and if you’re in the market for a mid-range device that offers the best camera performance then you should definitely consider the Xiaomi Mi A2.

Sony SRS-XB12 Bluetooth Speaker Review: Loud Sound in a Tiny Package

I have used a lot of Bluetooth speakers, and for the most part, I have found that larger, usually more expensive ones offer better sound. However, they do compromise considerably on portability — th[...]